Manager, Benefits

Voyant Beauty•Hodgkins, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Benefits Manager leads the management and administration of the Company's benefits, retirement and leave programs across the US and Canada. This role is responsible for ensuring programs are competitive, equitable, cost-effective, and aligned with business objectives to attract, retain, and engage top talent. The Benefits Manager serves as a strategic partner to HR leadership and key business stakeholders, leveraging market insights, employee feedback, and program data to evaluate effectiveness and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. This role oversees the employee benefits experience from plan design and vendor management through annual enrollment, employee communications, and ongoing administration. In addition, the Benefits Manager plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state/provincial and local regulations and maintaining the integrity and efficiency of benefits processes and data within the Company's HRIS, Dayforce. The ideal candidate combines benefits expertise with a strategic mindset, operational rigor, and a commitment to delivering a meaningful, accessible, and positive employee experience.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field (Preferred)
Relevant certifications (e.g., Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) (Preferred)
4-6 years in benefits, management, with at least 2 years in managerial role. (Preferred)
4-6 years in designing, implementing and managing benefits programs within a corporate environment. (Preferred)
4-6 years proven ability to work with HRIS systems and data management. (Preferred)
4-6 years with regulatory compliance in benefits and, leave programs. (Preferred)
Expertise in managing employee benefits programs, including health, retirement, wellness and leaves. (High proficiency)
Knowledge of federal and state regulations affecting benefits, including FLSA, ERISA, ACA, ADA, and IRS regulations. (High proficiency)
Ability to analyze benefits data and identify trends, discrepancies, and areas for improvement. (High proficiency)
Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. (High proficiency)
Ability to work effectively with leadership, HR teams, and employees across different departments to align benefits strategies with business needs. (High proficiency)
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel for data analysis and reporting. (High proficiency)
Experience managing vendor relationships and negotiating contracts for benefits services. (Medium proficiency)
Communication skills to effectively present benefits and wellness programs to employees and leadership. (Medium proficiency)
Ability to manage multiple projects and initiatives effectively, ensuring timely execution. (Medium proficiency)
Ability to manage HRIS data for benefits and generate/analyze reports. (Medium proficiency)

Nice To Haves

Dayforce experience

Responsibilities

Lead the management and administration of employee benefits programs, including health, wellness, and retirement, across the full employee life cycle, ensuring programs are competitive, cost-effective, compliant, and aligned with business objectives.
Partner with benefits consultants, carriers, vendors, outsourced leave providers, and field HR teams to evaluate program effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement solutions that enhance the employee experience and support business objectives.
Lead the administration and oversight of US and Canada leave programs, ensuring consistent, timely, and compliant management throughout the employee life cycle.
Partner with outsourced leave providers, HR teams, payroll, and other internal stakeholders to administer statutory and company-sponsored leaves, including FMLA, state/provincial leaves, disability, parental, military, and personal leave programs.
Oversee leave-related processes, data, reporting, and vendor performance; resolve escalated issues; and provide guidance and education to HR teams and employees to support a consistent and positive leave experience.
Lead the annual open enrollment process from planning through execution and post-enrollment activities, ensuring effective communication of plan changes and a seamless experience for employees, HR teams, and vendor partners.
Oversee post-enrollment activities, including enrollment reconciliation, eligibility and data validation, vendor file updates, issue resolution, and follow-up communications to ensure accurate and timely implementation of benefit elections.
Develop and deliver clear, engaging benefits education and resources throughout the enrollment cycle to promote employee understanding, informed decision-making, and effective utilization of benefits programs.
Manage benefits data within the HRIS (Dayforce) to ensure accuracy, consistency, data integrity, and compliance with internal policies and applicable regulations.
Conduct regular audits and reconciliation activities to identify and resolve discrepancies, maintain data quality, and ensure accurate benefits administration.
Develop and maintain reports and dashboards to monitor program performance, utilization, effectiveness, and total costs, providing insights to support informed decision-making.
Oversee vendor file feeds and data integrations, ensuring timely and accurate transmission of benefits data, proactively resolving issues, and partnering with vendors and internal stakeholders to maintain seamless data exchange.
Ensure benefits programs comply with applicable US and Canada federal, state/provincial, and local laws and regulations, including ACA, ERISA, FLSA, FMLA, IRS requirements, and other relevant legislation.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, assess their impact on existing programs and processes, and proactively recommend and implement updates to maintain compliance.
Partner with internal stakeholders, external advisors, and auditors to support compliance audits, regulatory reviews, required reporting, and remediation efforts, ensuring timely resolution of identified issues and ongoing adherence to applicable requirements.
Collaborate with HR leadership and other departments to ensure benefits and payroll strategies align with Company goals.
Provide expert guidance and support to managers and employees on benefits and payroll-related inquiries, ensuring clarity and understanding across the company.
Stay informed with industry trends and best practices in total rewards and payroll to ensure the company remains competitive and continues to offer attractive programs.
Manage relationships with external vendors related to benefits, payroll, and employee recognition programs, ensuring smooth operations, effective service delivery and continuous improvement of offerings and processes.